Isaac bbatton



(No Model.)

I. BRATTON.. l SUGTIoN BoXFoA PAPER MAKING MAUHINBS.`

No. 280,564, A yatented July 3, 1888.

N. PETERS. Pnnxn-Lnhographar. wamingwn. D. C.

UNITED YSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC BRATTON, OF WILMINGTON, DELAVARE.

SUCTION-BOX F'OR PAPER-MAKING MACHINES..V

SPECIFICATION- forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,564, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed February 7, 1883. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC BRATTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilmington, Delaware, have invented certain Improvements in Paper-Making Machines, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to certain improvements in connection with the suction-box of a paper-making machine, the object of my invention being to facilitate the operation of the machine and improve the product.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of the suction-box of a paper making machine with my improvements, Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 3 a sectional view` of an ejector which I use in carrying out my invention.

A represents a suction-box of an ordinary Fourdrinier paper-machine 5 B, the perforated plate forming the top of the same 5 D, part of the endless web or apron of wire-gauze on lwhich the sheet of pulp is deposited; E E, the

usual deckle-straps for. limiting the width of the Sheet, and r F the adjustable heads or plungers, which coincide with the decklle straps, and are intended to prevent leakage of air into the suction-chamber G of the box. A partial vacuum being established in said chamber, the water is drawn from the sheet of pulp as the endless apron D"carries the same over the perforated cover of the box A, the -w-ater being drawn from the box through a pipe, I-I. Ordinarily a pump is used for this purpose, and it becomes necessary to prevent the entrance of air to the 'suction-chamber G, as a mixture of air with the water would interfere with thev operation of the pump, hence it has been usual to seal the suction-chamber by filling the box A with water outside of the adjustable heads F. A portion of this water not affected in its action by the admixture of air with the water. For this reason I am enabled to dispense with the water-seal for the heads F, and thus obviate the objections above mentioned, and there being no leakage of air to guard against, I am enabledrto maintain in the suction-chamber G a condition more nearly approaching a perfect vacuum than is possible with the pump, the water being thus rapidly drawn from the sheet of pulp, so that the speed of the apron can be materially increased without risk of carrying off the pulp while it still retains a surplus of moisture. Another advantage of using the ejector in place of the pump is the facility with which said ejector can be cleansed by passing a current of clean 4water through the same.

It is the common practice to convey the discharge from the suction-box of the machine back to the mixing-box, in order to save the particles of pulp carried off with the water.

In making colored paper the particles of colored pulp fill the interstices in the cylinder, valve-boxes, and other parts of an exhaustpump to such an extent that it is Ddifficult to properly clean the latter when changing from the manufacture of paper of one color to that of another color, or from colored to white paper, and in consequence the first paper produced after the change is apt to be streaky or spotted. This objection is eifectually overcome by my invention, there being no parts in the ejector which would serve to retain the colored particles of pulp, so that the thorough cleansing of the ejector can be effected in a few moments.

Incidental to the use of the ejector in place of the pump are the further advantages of its compactness, its freedom from liability to get out of order, and the facility with which it can be used in positions where the use of a pump would be impossible.

Various forms of ejectors may be used in carrying out my invention; but the form which I have found to answer well in practice, and which I prefer, is that shown in Fig. 3, c being the steam chamber of the ejector, having a branch, a; b the inlet and d the outlet branch. The branch b has a conical end and the branch d a flaring mouth, and the steam passes from IOO the chamber c through the tapering annular passage thus formed7 the water from the suction-box being drawn through the branch b and forced from the branch 7. A free and unbroken How of water through the branches I; and d is thus permitted7 Whereas in an ordinary ejector the water takes a more or less circuitous course through a contracted passage7 and when the water carries with it numerous particles ot' pulp it has a tendency to clog such a passage and interfere with the proper Working of the device.

I have shown the ejector in a Vertical. position at the side ofthe machine; but it maybe located wherever convenience or circumstances may suggest. 

